Eren knew something wasn't right when he heard his comrades yelling out Eld's name. A pang of panic struck him as he whipped his head. However, the only thing he could spot was a figure of a Female Titan. He couldn't see his comrades.

And he didn't need to anymore. Whether he could see them or not, he knew what was the next thing he would do. And nobody shall stop him from fulfilling it.

I won't allow any harm to come to them, he decided, retracting the wires and shooting them in the opposite direction. Returning to his squad.

He heard Petra's voice to have faith, Captain Levi's voice telling him to choose and even though the fear surged through his bloodstream, determination and anger kept him going.

She will not kill anyone anymore! he growled inwardly, closer and more anxious with each swing of his gear.

***

"Oh no..." Petra froze in place, eyes wildly searching for a solution.

Eld was tangled and helpless, Gunther and Auruo stopped fighting the Female Titan. But even that small pause would be enough for the creature to regenerate. And then she will attack again and they will have to capture her again. But if they waste time on capturing her, they will be killed by titans. And if they start running away, she will get them first.

If they- if they-

Suddenly, she heard zipping. Looking up on instinct, she spotted Eren hovering in the air above them. State without gravity enveloped him as he looked down not at her but at the Female Titan.

Determination and sureness vibrated in his green eyes. An alluring wish of vengeance was practically reflecting.

Petra's heart sank.

"No! Eren, don't!" she exclaimed, but it was too late.

Eren had bitten his hand and thunder struck before her. Shielding her eyes, she backed away, connecting herself at the tree behind.

When it was over, she looked up, eyes widening at the enormous figure standing in place Eren was just a few seconds ago.

Even when he did it before her own eyes, even if she had seen many experiments Hange had done alongside him, even when she knew - she couldn't stay indifferent to how shocking and surreal this all was.

That Eren - that shy boy who always helped her, who respected others and cheered for the victory he had in his heart - was able to turn into this.

However, it may be that she as well had to grow used to it.

Hearing shouts, she spotted Auruo and Gunther going towards Eld. To help him out and protect him from approaching titans.

I have to help.

With that cognition, Petra nodded to herself. Seeing Eren still steaming after transformation and seizing the Female Titan, ready to attack, she shouted to him.

"Eren! We will help Eld and when we finish, come with us!"

The Titan looked down at her and nodded. Then he took a powerful run past her.

Petra bit her lip. She wasn't sure he would listen. But what else did she have?

She shot through the pocket of an empty space Eren left behind to fight the Female Titan, whose body stopped steaming.

We failed, Petra grit her teeth. Soon, a roar belonging to Eren reverberated through the whole forest, but she forced herself to stay calm.

He will be alright, she hoped.

"Auruo, Gunther, cut these wires!" Eld yelled out when Petra got to them. All the while two men were trying to somehow get Eld out of the disarray without damaging the gear.

"Are you crazy? If we do, you won't be able to get back!" Gunther yelled back.

"Let it be! I will rather be alive without gear than eaten with gear," Eld remarked, trying to wiggle out, causing the wires to tighten and blood to seep from his injured hand.

"Stop it! You'll hurt yourself!" Petra exclaimed, putting both hands on Eld's shoulders to steady him.

"Then get me out of it!"

Hard hand rested on Petra's shoulder, startling her. She looked over and faced Auruo whose face showed only determination. That, combined with thunderous sound coming from two fighting Titans made Petra understand what they must do.

No matter what happens next.

"Let's then," she said.

"Gunther, hold Eld and Petra and I will cut his wires," Auruo said.

However, Gunther glared at them. Instead of a silent disapproval he would usually show, he fought back viciously.

"Then what?! We leave him here or wait for reinforcement that would not even look for us since the horde of titans is coming?! We all are short on gas and will not have the strength to carry him for a longer distance. We can't afford to leave him defenceless!"

Both Auruo and Petra clenched their fists. Sharing the same sentiments they were, but couldn't afford useless altercations that can be as well avoided. Only with a good choice of words.

"Then how do you suggest we free him?" Auruo asked, eyes forced to remain calm, but a layer of spite couldn't help but to linger nevertheless.

"We will unhook the hooks! And then-" Gunther started before he was cut off by Eld who for sure grew tired of someone ostensibly pursuing to decide in his place.

"Damn it! Can't you follow one shitty order I give you?!" he shouted, shooting Gunther a dangerous look. "I said. Cut. The. Wires. Now!"

Gunther pressed his lips, eyes widened in shock. Complexion going paler for a bit. Finally, he nodded and moved slightly behind Eld, hooking his arms beneath his armpits, holding him in place.

"Cut the wires," he said sullenly.

Auruo and Petra drew out their swords and cut the wires restraining Eld. Wires loosened and Eld's arms fell down abruptly, but Gunther was ready to support him.

"Thank you," Eld said, eyes reflecting a sentiment that somehow, no matter how poised he was, was aware of how he will truly be defenceless from now on.

"I am so sorry Eld," Petra whispered.

"Don't be sorry, none of you," Eld said, looking at everyone's worried gazes and forcing a smile not quite reaching the rest of his visage. "It was my fault only. Besides, we will get over this, we always do."

Others shook their heads, relief lightly oozing, before a large body violently landed a few metres beside them.

The ground shook and they launched upwards in the treetops, keen on escaping to safety as soon as possible, with Eld leaching onto Gunther's back.

When they were up, they landed hard, breathing heavily but glad they stayed alive. When another roar echoed, they nervously exchanged glances, running to spot the largest branch was splitting from the trunk.

Looking down, they gasped. Eren had managed to bring down Female Titan but the victory was short lived. In no time, the positions switched and Female Titan bit off skin on Eren's Titan's nape, leaving Eren himself bare and unprotected.

"EREN!" everyone screamed.

We must help him! Petra's mind screamed.

She took a hold of her swords and tried to jump down, but Eld and Auruo materialised behind her, each clenching one of her arms.

"What are you thinking?!" Eld yelled.

"Come back! You can't help him!" Auruo added in a softer tone, but not less panicked.

"Let me go! Let me go!" Petra cried out, staring in horror as Eren got abducted by being bitten off with the Female's mouth. Not sparing an honourable glance at them, Female Titan ran off with Eren behind her teeth.

Everyone froze. They stood there, paralyzed. If somebody was breathing, others couldn't hear it. It rang in their ears. Out of shock or as an aftermath of multiple roars? Maybe both.

"GET HIM BACK!"

A powerful, furious yell snapped them from their daze and they saw Mikasa flying rapidly, so fast that lighting would be envious. Her eyes were cruel, she didn't see anything around her but the main focus of her attention - Female Titan escaping with Eren, her Eren, never wishing to give him back.

She will help Eren, Petra realised, muscles loosening. Even if she wanted, she couldn't give her a hand - she almost ran off the gas completely.

Auruo and Eld let out sights of relief. Releasing Petra, they collapsed down, staring into the horde of titans roaming below.

"What now?" Gunther voiced out everyone's thoughts, speaking for the first time since they released Eld. Every so often shooting worried glances at his friend, he would ball his fists, still believing they could do it differently.

"Nothing. We wait," Eld said naturally, turning his back to Gunther so he would not feel a bubbling irritation anymore under his overt scrutiny.

He thinks it could have been different, Eld thought, running a hand through his long, messy hair.

"Tch. That bitch," Auruo said sourly, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. As if even a mention of a nickname for that creature left a dirt on his lips.

And now we must sit here like this, he spat inwardly, a dislike of being useless poking his already sensitive nerves.

"Levi will surely come. I know it," Petra said, looking at the space of forest they had left, now far away.

The part of the forest they were now was near the end of the trees. She hoped Levi would soon come to help Mikasa and tell them what to do - if the help was planned to come, that is.

If it wasn't-

She shook her head, pushing a slowly building dread out of her head. For now.

Eyes cast down, she sighed. Titans haven't noticed them, which is good. Better if they remain like this as much as possible - unnoticed, invisible. Not that titans could do anything to them. It was just too uncomfortable when they know they are up and stare at them with those lazy, mad or frozen eyes.

Looking up again, she searched for anything, anyone familiar. And soon, she narrowed her eyes, swearing she indeed noticed it. After some seconds, realisation spread over her entire face and her eyes gleamed in hope.

All dread disappeared like that.

"Levi!" she shouted, waving with both hands.

All heads turned in the direction she was looking and indeed - Captain Levi was approaching them.

It might have been that he didn't hear them yelling out for when he was near enough to discern them, he halted.

Unblinking he stared, shock evident, brain doing wonders to fully calm down his still whirling worries.

Eld, Gunther, Auruo- he counted, noticing through the fogged mind that Eren wasn't present.

But then, his eyes fell on Petra. And like that, something changed on his face. He didn't think about anything else.

As fast as he could, he landed on the tip of the branch his squad was on.

Deactivating his gear, he sprinted forward, running toward the person who was miraculously set closest to him - Petra.

They crashed in a hug so fierce and loving that would make one forget where they were. Now nothing mattered - only them. Levi inhaled in her hair, taking in her smell, feeling her light body against his. Petra's arms around his neck tightened. She felt her heart beating rapidly, she felt Levi's panicked breath on her neck. She felt secureness radiating from him, the love he held for her. She wanted to cry.

Pulling away, both of them looked at each other, enveloping each other's faces with their hands.

"You are alive," Levi let out, astonished.

Petra nodded. "You promised me we will be ok. I had to keep it."

Their foreheads touching, they shut their eyes. For a moment of bliss, they forgot the peril and fate, forgot everyone and everything.

But they had to go back to the world. Since it was what mattered most now.

Later, later they will have time.

"Eld, Gunther, Auruo," Levi said once they pulled away, taking note of Eld and Gunther's teasing smiles. "I am glad you are ok."

"Don't worry, Captain. We knew you noticed us as a whole before going to Petra," Eld said with a wink. "We are not insulted in the slightest."

"You..." Levi let out before inhaling sharply. "Later with it. What happened to your hand? And are the others injured?"

"We are all fine," Auruo answered stoically. "Eld is the one who got his gear useless now. But it was a must."

Levi froze. "What?"

"Ling story short - I got tangled and had to cut it. The wound is from the wire."

"He'll be ok, we will protect him," Petra assured, a hand on Levi's shoulder. "Don't worry."

It was not an optimal solution, but for now, Levi had to put it aside.

"Alright then. I will leave you here and free Eren since I see he's not with you," Levi said, looking at Petra. "Don't move from here."

Petra nodded. "Mikasa passed here not long after he was captured. She is fighting as well."

On cue of her name, Levi's eyes darkened for a moment. "That brat... thinks can do it alone."

With no further instructions set, Levi shot his wires at the nearby tree.

"Do as I said. You are not allowed to die. Not any single one of you," he ordered, giving only Petra a last glance full of gentleness and care.

Petra returned it the best she could before he disappeared in the woods.

Be careful, she prayed.

.

.

.

Damned leg.

Levi grit his teeth as he and Mikasa flew away from the Female Titan. He carried Eren, who was trapped in some kind of hard mass, while his twisted leg burned.

What will happen now? I can't leave my squad that can't return to safety since their gas had almost run out. With all those titans below, it's just a matter of time-

...

Ah... that is.

"Oi, brat," Levi called after Mikasa, landing on one tree. Mikasa landed opposite of him, seizing him with those cold eyes that could easily rival his own.

"Take this brat and go to others," he said, pointing to Eren he dropped down on the branch.

Mikasa's eyes slightly widened. Shock on her otherwise calm and sullen face brought Levi a small sense of self-satisfaction.

"But... what about you?" she asked, looking down at Eren.

"Tell Erwin I am not leaving my squad," Levi said. "And that if he can, bring reinforcement to us. If not... then we will get back ourselves."

"Wait-" Mikasa reached out but Levi was already gone.

Knitting her eyebrows, she stared after Levi. She didn't blame him and a small part of her hated she understood him - that cold man who had beaten Eren up.

Swiftly, she jumped on the branch Levi had abandoned and crouched down beside Eren. She watched his relaxed, sleeping face and allowed a small smile to tug at her lips.

She will never let anything harm him in any way like this anymore.

She will never lose him.

.

.

.

"How much gas?"

"None."

"A little."

"Enough for a kilometre or so. You?"

"Close to yours. But it is useless now."

Everyone sighed. Beside anxiety of anticipating how and will Captain Levi save Eren and will he, as well as Mikasa, survive, they felt tiredness like never before.

Was it a feeling of failure fueling their low spirits or just exhaustion of a long fight with an enemy never encountered before?

Beside that question, a dozen others poked them.

How long will they have to stay? Will they manage to return home? If they don't, how will their families handle it? Will they shout their names? What will the Commander say? How will they get to the Walls if it comes to it?

Petra thought of her father. Her poor father who for sure sits down at his chair, afraid and not eating. How he will have to wait for longer and maybe forever.

No, no, no. I can't think about this. I can't! she shook her head.

Instead, she focused her thoughts on Levi. The one who can't and will not die today. She imagined him coming back with good news, of how he will finally be standing there, uninjured, safe and how she will embrace him wholly. Wholly, without fear or haste. Because another expedition can be far away and they can be what they didn't have time to be before.

How they will now have more time, more time to spend together.

With a smile and somehow selfish mirth she imagined them walking down the river in the sunset, holding hands and feeling each other's love.

Oh, how beautiful it would be. As well as other things. But if he doesn't return... if something happens, she wouldn't know how to handle it.

And suddenly, she felt a presence. Turning, she saw Levi landing at the centre of the tree, looking down at them. His gaze had something off, something nobody had seen before.

Taking a careful step, she joined others.

"Levi, what's going on?" she asked.

Hopping down before them, Levi winced. That's when Petra noticed his leg was bent slightly. Her heart sank.

"Don't worry. I twisted it a bit," he announced, catching their attention.

"Captain, what's going on?" Auruo asked. Eld and Gunther watched silently, expressions grim.

Levi sighed. "Apparently, I have a little gas left and if help doesn't arrive, we will stay here."

Silence spread over like a plague.

"Why did you come back... then?" Petra whispered and Levi widened his eyes up at her. Others looked at her in disbelief, bewilderment and shock.

Fierce amber eyes glared at him, filled with tears that made him take a stap back. Petra stomped to him and took him by the collar fiercely.

"Why did you come back?!" she yelled, voice breaking. "You will die like the rest of us! You... you will..."

She strained herself and fought back the emotions finally flooding through the surface of her strong barriers. She never wanted to believe in such an end, not like this. Defenceless. She didn't want to lose faith.

But it was how it was. And how it will probably be.

And now, her Captain, her love, was going to share the same fate as them.

Her sobs were muffled by Levi's jacket. He held her tenderly, stroking her hair.

"I am not leaving my squad," he said, every word making Petra cry harder. "And I am not leaving you."

Maybe this is fine, Petra managed a smile. Maybe this is how it should be.

AN: I apologise due to less of Rivetra in the past three chapters, but this situation had to be overcomed in a way so that their relationship could become the main focus again. I hope you enjoyed it nevertheless and from the next chapter, the story will continue with them being the main focus. I hope you will like the rest of the story. 😊